Serving with Purpose: Pantry Box Project for Immerse Arkansas
- A'Ja Rolfe
- Feb 24, 2025
- 3 min read
At Elite Sisters of Light, service is at the heart of everything we do. As members of the Order of the Eastern Star (OES), we are committed to uplifting our communities through charitable works, embodying the principles of faith, love, and kindness. This year, we are honored to serve by creating Pantry Boxes to support the incredible mission of Immerse Arkansas—an organization dedicated to empowering youth in crisis.
Who is Immerse Arkansas?
Founded in 2008, Immerse Arkansas began as a response to the challenges faced by youth aging out of foster care. Eric and Kara Gilmore, the founders, saw firsthand how young people—many of whom had spent years moving from one foster home to another—were left with no support once they turned 18. In one heartbreaking case, a young woman was dropped off at a bus station with only a small bag of clothes and one night’s worth of her medication.
Determined to change this reality, the Gilmores launched Immerse Arkansas in 2010 to provide housing and support to foster youth transitioning into adulthood. Over time, their work expanded to include runaway and homeless youth, youth exiting the Division of Youth Services (DYS), and survivors of trafficking and exploitation. Today, Immerse Arkansas is a beacon of hope, bridging gaps in the child welfare system and ensuring that youth in crisis have a safe place to live, access to resources, and opportunities to build a brighter future.
How We’re Supporting the Mission
To help support the youth that Immerse Arkansas serves, we are organizing a Pantry Box Project to provide three days’ worth of essential meals for those facing food insecurity. By coming together, we can ensure that these young people have access to nutritious meals during difficult times.
Each pantry box will include:
✅ 2 Pasta Boxes 🍝
✅ 1 Jar of Pasta Sauce 🍅
✅ 1 Jar of Peanut Butter 🥜
✅ 1 Jar of Jelly 🍇
✅ 1 Box of Cereal 🥣
✅ 6 Cans/Cups of Fruit 🍍🍎
✅ 2 Cans of Beans 🫘
✅ 4 Cans of Vegetables 🌽🥕
✅ 1 Bag of Rice 🍚
✅ 2 Cans of Tuna or Chicken 🐟🍗
✅ 1 Cake/Muffin Mix Box 🎂
How You Can Get Involved
📅 Donation Period: Starts February 21st, 2025 – We are accepting non-perishable food donations to fill the boxes. Every contribution makes a difference!
📍 Assemble Boxes: March 6th, 2025 – Join us during Study Hall as we come together to assemble the pantry boxes and document our service in action.
🎁 Delivery Day: March 7th, 2025 – The completed boxes will be delivered to Immerse Arkansas, ensuring they reach youth in need.
🤝 Volunteers Needed: Everyone is encouraged to participate! Whether through donations, assembling the boxes, or helping with delivery, every effort counts.
Why This Matters to Us
As an OES chapter, we are committed to service, charity, and community support. Our organization stands on the values of compassion and helping those in need, especially the most vulnerable. Partnering with Immerse Arkansas allows us to extend our impact to youth who often feel forgotten, showing them that they are seen, valued, and supported.
Through this initiative, we honor our commitment to faith-based service while making a tangible difference in the lives of young people striving for stability and success.
Join Us in Making an Impact
We invite all of our sisters, brothers, and community members to be a part of this meaningful project. Your donations, time, and support will go a long way in changing lives and providing hope.
For more details or to contribute, please contact elitesistersoflight@gmail.com
Let’s come together and show the power of service! 💜
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